Is Your Child's Halloween Costume Flammable?

Thanks to federal apparel flammability standards, parents shouldn't have to worry about a costume quickly going up in flames if a child gets too close to a candlelit jack-o'-lantern. But do all costumes comply?

GHRI Investigates: Kids' Halloween Costumes

We tested 11 children's costumes for flammability. The GHRI Textiles Lab focused on styles made with iridescent fabric or glued-on sparkles, because in previous investigations those had proved riskiest.

One costume, the Sparkle Pixie by Easter Unlimited, flat-out failed the test; on average, a flame traveled up the shimmery fabric in under the 3.5-second legal limit.

Two other costumes — Disney Princess by Disguise, and Elegant Witch by Rubies — technically passed. However, certain fabrics in these costumes had average burn times of 4.2 and 5.3 seconds, respectively. We consider this too fast, given that many fabrics don't ignite at all.

Watch what happened in our flammability test:

Our Costume Advice:

Choose costumes made of solid-colored and/or crushed velvet polyester, which typically melt (rather than flare up) when exposed to fire.

Steer clear of cotton, linen, jute, and acetate in costumes (even homemade ones), because these fabrics are more highly flammable.

It's best to avoid shimmery fabrics and sparkles (unless the sequins are sewed on); it's impossible to tell by looking which are safe — some of these fabrics did pass our tests (see list below).

When creating a homemade costume, stick with polyester, wool, feathers, and fabrics that are smooth or have a slightly raised surface, such as crushed velvet. (However, plusher fabrics such as regular velvet have higher fibers and therefore can be more flammable.)

Look out for dangling sleeves or large capes. Besides having a tendency to graze near a flame more easily, they also can be a tripping hazard.

Consider accessories carefully. Skip those that are made with lots of sparkles and glitter. The best choices are those that are handheld or on the head. Scarves or boas that drape over and around the neck aren't a good idea, as they can dangle into a flame and/or pose a choking risk.

A costume's price isn't an indication that it will or won't be a flammability risk.

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The bottom line: Candles and costumes don't mix. Keep kids away from open flames and candle-lit jack-o'-lanterns. Illuminate yours with battery-powered LED "candles," which pose no flammability risk.

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